New Delhi, Jan 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Monday and the two leaders discussed various issues related to Jammu and Kashmir.

No details of the meeting were available.

The meeting comes amid growing tensions between the elected government of J&K and the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration.

The Transaction of Business Rules (TBR) are also yet to be settled between the elected government and the LG’s administration.

“Chief Minister today met Union Home Minister @AmitShah in New Delhi to discuss various matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir,” CM’s Office said in a post on microblogging site X. The meeting also comes in the backdrop of reports of Kashmiri shawl sellers being roughed up in various parts of the country.

The budget session of the J&K Assembly is scheduled to begin in February and the Union Home Ministry is the nodal ministry for the allocation of funds for the union territories. In the past, CM Omar has said that while the central government has been “well disposed” in terms of funding and extending capital expenditure schemes, the relationship with the LG’s Office has been antagonistic.

CM Omar has publicly alleged that the LG appointed an IAS officer to a post reserved for JK Administrative Services (JKAS) to deny the elected government control over the Information Department.

He has been vocal about the “disempowerment” of the office of the J&K Chief Minister, saying that he has had the “unique misfortune” of transitioning from leading one of the country’s most empowered states to a union territory with “far less power than any other state CM”.

In his past interactions with the media, CM Omar has listed what he termed as administrative “strangulation” by the LG’s Office, alleging interference in departments that have nothing to do with security or law and order.

New Delhi, Jan 19: The United Nations chief has accused the United States of acting with impunity and placing power above international law, warning that the founding principles of multilateralism are under strain, the BBC reported.

In remarks to BBC Radio, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Washington appeared convinced that multilateral solutions were irrelevant and that the exercise of US power and influence often took precedence over international legal norms.

He said this approach threatened the UN Charter’s core principles, including the equality of member states.

Guterres, in the interview, acknowledged that the UN was struggling to ensure compliance with international law, noting that major powers wield greater leverage and often use it to pursue narrow interests rather than lasting solutions.

He also called for urgent reform of the UN, particularly the Security Council, which he said no longer reflects global realities and has become ineffective due to frequent use of veto powers. The comments came amid growing global tensions, including conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and debates over the future of multilateralism.

Guterres, whose term ends later this year, reiterated that confronting powerful states was essential to upholding the rule of law and creating a more stable international order.

New Delhi, Jan 19: Nitin Nabin is set to become the BJP national president as he emerged as the sole candidate for the top party post, senior BJP leader and returning officer K Laxman announced on Monday.

In a statement, he said 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Nabin as the BJP national president and all nomination papers were found to be valid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the proposers of Nabin’s candidature for the post of BJP national president. Several senior BJP leaders including party chief J P Nadda, and Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari were among the proposers.

Laxman said according to the schedule, the nomination process for the BJP national president was completed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday.

“In all, 37 sets of nomination papers were received in favour of Shri Nitin Nabin for the post of national president. On scrutiny, all sets of nomination papers were found to be duly filled out in the required format and were valid.

“Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity of national returning officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only one name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Laxman said in a statement.

He said the BJP national president’s election process was initiated after the election of 30 state presidents out of 36 states, well above the required number for completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the states.

He said the notification of the schedule of events was announced and the electoral roll was published on January 16.

Of 37 sets of nomination papers, 36 were from states which bore the signatures of 20 leaders in each set of papers.

The other set of nomination papers was proposed by members of the BJP Parliamentary Board, including the prime minister, and 37 MPs.

Lucknow, Jan 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed the need for respecting differing viewpoints and criticism with dignity in legislatures, underscoring technology’s role in enhancing transparency in legislative and democratic processes.

In a message to participants of the three-day 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC), which began in Lucknow, PM Modi said that this Conference provides an effective platform to the Presiding Officers of our Parliament and the legislatures of States to share perspectives and experiences in following legislative practices and upholding Constitutional values.

“It also provides them an opportunity to share their concerns, best practices and initiatives to further enhance legislative efficiency and democratic processes,” he said in a statement.

Greeting Lok Sabha Speaker and AIPOC Chairman Om Birla for the event, PM Modi said, “In today’s digital age, technology is a proven force multiplier. It continues to be relevant in strengthening transparency, efficiency and citizen-centric legislative processes.”

He said technology is also important for optimising the capacity of legislators and in making our legislatures and elected representatives more accountable and accessible to citizens.

May the deliberations at this Conference further boost the effectiveness and efficiency of the Presiding Officers in raising the quality of debates and discussions in the Houses, he said.

Recalling the AIPOC’s past, PM Modi said, “What is particularly pleasing to note is that this national conference follows the conclusion of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) hosted by our Parliament.”

He said since its inception in Shimla in 1921, AIPOC has truly come a long way. Having addressed AIPOC sessions earlier, my mind immediately races back to my participation at the Centennial conference, also held in Shimla in 2021.

The Prime Minister said debates and discussions are important part of a democracy as these promote transparency, fairness and respect for differing viewpoints and criticism with dignity.

“In this context, Speakers and Presiding Officers play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth, impartial and orderly functioning of legislative bodies by facilitating effective transaction of business while maintaining decorum and decency on the floor of the House and adhering to legislative rules and procedures,” he said.

By presiding over debates, giving members an opportunity to speak, deciding points of order and overseeing voting, they act as neutral authorities above party politics, uphold the dignity of the House and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes, he added.